ATA Launches National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

by Jana Ritter - Published: 9/15/2014

This year’s “National Truck Driver Appreciation Week” is taking place from September 14-20^th and American Trucking Associations President and CEO, Bill Graves kicked the week off with a special video message to the 3.2 million professional truck drivers being honored across the nation.

"I just wanted to take a moment to say 'Thank you to the 3.2 million professionals, men and women, who safely move products for this country and provide for the quality of life that Americans have come to appreciate”, Graves said.

The ATA began celebrating National Truck Driver Appreciation week in 1988, to rally nation wide support and appreciation for the very people now logging nearly 421 billion miles to deliver the goods that 80 percent of the U.S. depends on solely for the essentials of everyday life. In fact it was reported that in 2013 alone, the trucking industry delivered 69.1 percent of U.S. freight tonnage, which is the equivalent to 9.7 billion tons of freight.

It is essentially what the message behind the campaign states:

“Professional truck drivers keep America moving forward.”

This week, truck driver appreciation will be celebrated across the country, featuring various events hosted by the ATA itself, ATA state affiliates, America's Road Team Captains, motor carriers, shippers and many other industry related companies. The events will include driver award ceremonies, company cookouts, bonuses and gifts for drivers, as well as other expressions of appreciation for the extremely important job America's truck drivers do.

TravelCenters of America and the Truckload Carriers Association is also teaming up is to honor National Truck Driver Appreciation Week by hosting health fairs at fifteen different TA and Petro locations across the country on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, from 3-6 p.m.

This will actually be the fourth year of the NTAW health fairs that include various activities such as health care professionals conducting blood-pressure screenings and glucose testing, sleep apnea specialists, fitness coaches, wellness walks, cornhole, basketball, dog washing, pet adoption, live bands, truck windshield washing, and other things depending on each location.

ATA Chairman Phil Byrd and President of Bulldog Hiway Express also rallied the nation to take part in the importance of the events. "I ask all Americans to join me in doing something to celebrate our nation's truck drivers. For too long, our millions of professional drivers have not been afforded the respect they deserve and we hope this annual celebration of their dedication to safety and their essential role in our economy can help to change that."

How do you plan to celebrate “National Truck Driver Appreciation Week”?